Cosart struck out nine, including six in a row and seven of eight in one stretch. The right-hander had entered the game with a 7.17 ERA through his previous three starts.

“That's the best I've seen him as far as the sharpness of his off-speed stuff,” Astros catcher Jason Castro said. “That's the best I've ever seen his breaking ball. He's been working a lot on that. It's come a long way even since the beginning of spring. It's really good to see. It was a fun game to catch for sure.”

Cosart said he has been told one of the biggest adjustments he needs to make to stay in the big leagues is to be able to throw his breaking ball for a strike in any count.

After going through the Nationals' lineup the first time, Cosart started Washington's first three hitters — Denard Span, Ian Desmond and Ryan Zimmerman — with a breaking ball the next time through the order.

“I threw it 0-0. I threw it 0-1, I threw it 2-1 (and) 2-0,” Cosart said, “just to be able to have the hitters have something else in their mind. It paid dividends today.”

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Jesus Guzman hit a solo home run for the Astros. Shortstop prospect Carlos Correa was hit on the hand by a pitch and was to have X-rays taken.

Appel set for debut: Astros right-hander Mark Appel, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, will make his spring debut Friday. Manager Bo Porter said it had not been determined if he will throw in a minor league game or if he will face the Miami Marlins. Appel had an appendectomy in January.

Maddux throwing first pitch: Greg Maddux will throw the ceremonial first pitch before the Texas Rangers' season opener against Philadelphia in Arlington.

Maddux, a special assistant with the Rangers, will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame later this year after the pitcher was a first-ballot selection. His first pitch March 31 will be caught by his brother, Texas pitching coach Mike Maddux.

For the first regular-season game at The Ballpark in Arlington in 1994, the national anthem was performed by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra accompanied by Fort Worth resident and award-winning classical pianist, the late Van Cliburn. The Fort Worth orchestra will return 20 years later to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner,” again at this year's opener.